www.mof.gov.tl
Future shipping captains may work on dry ground. Rolls-Royce
has invested in designs for unmanned cargo ships and remote control centers to
operate them.

Bloomberg’s Isaac Arnsdorf reported
that the U.K-based maker of engines and turbines has built a virtual reality
prototype to simulate a ship’s bridge in Norway. However, multiple experts
(engineers, insurers, shipping companies, union reps, etc.) he questioned
concluded that the concept was neither safe nor cost-effective.

The advantages of a crewless design are fuel efficiency,
lower operating costs, and more space for cargo. A cost benefit calculation by
the safety certification company DNV GL wasn’t favorable, and its expert told
Bloomberg that there are no international standards for unmanned vessels. Drone
ships are a long way out.

Incremental improvements to efficiency are more likely in
the form of cleaner diesel, natural gas, or biofuels and their byproducts.
Other ideas include reinventing
shipping containers to use less space, and mimicking nature to reduce drag. Some prototype ocean-going vessels incorporate sails. Some entrepreneurs in the air freight industry are even seriously considering resurrecting dirigibles as an alternative to cargo aircraft.

There’s no shortage of ideas, and several will undoubtedly take hold in one form or another. Drones are replacing military aircraft, and cars may become driverless
too - so, why not cargo vessels?